laptop stand

laptop stand - 09/20/0505:45 AM

I'm working on a laptop stand, I'll post some pictures when it's done, but I have 2 80 mm fans that should be at my door today and I was wondering the best way to position them - pulling air out, pushing in, opposite to each other for some circulation? Also, I'm using a 12" aluminum pb, do you know where the hottest parts are? If you've got any suggestions, post up, otherwise I guess I'll just try a couple of options and run temperature monitor for a while.

Re:laptop stand - 09/20/0508:12 AM

The case is basically a giant heatsink, thats why it gets so hot. The hottest parts are probably the hd and cpu. Depending on how your stand works, I would have cool are running onto the book. Make sure it can vent the hot air out though. Good luck, cant wait to see the pics.-maestro

also, i really think apple may uprgrade your shipping and not charge you for it and not tell you about it. I order iLife the other day (with UPS), midnight on a thursday with 5 day economy shippng and it was here tuesday morning. Meanwhile this piece is supposed to be here today and it still isnt.

Re:laptop stand - 09/20/0511:48 AM

Re:laptop stand - 09/20/0512:24 PM

Sorry to be redundant, but be sure to post the final product. I also have a 12" PB that I would like to create a good cooler for. Currently, I'm using a sheet of paperboard with cork halves (sliced lengthwise) across each orner, and it doesn't really seem to help. Like maestro said, the wntire case acts as a heatsink, unlike the iBook, where there is more space on the inside and airflow is more effective. You'd think that Apple could have figured out that they already had a good case design and just gone with different materials. Oh well...

Re:laptop stand - 09/20/0512:47 PM

Re:laptop stand - 09/20/0501:11 PM

I got a killer idea myself. I tryed modding my iMac to fit in a xbox case. Well no luck there. A new idea hit me just now. I have quite a few IDE to USB converters and also a extra 5 port USB hub. Well heres the idea, it's funky but I think it's going to be neat. This idea is mostly a USB based docking station. Use the extra xbox case I have and stuff the DVD+RW I pulled from a messed up system at work. and also add a HD for backup use with the 5 port hub. On the top of the case will be the laptop cooler. Add two 120mm fans one or two 80mm fans on the back of the case. Also I could add or splice in some USB ports on the hub to have ports where the xbox controlers plug in.

Re:laptop stand - 09/20/0502:26 PM

Re:laptop stand - 09/20/0503:17 PM

that would be awesome - my project is going well, just taking a break to let the drill battery charge - on that note, if you ever try to cut a large circle in acrylic, it takes a lot of battery.

About the shipping earlier, I ordered them from new egg in CA, so it's fine by me that it took till now to get here, i'm just saying that whenever i order mac stuff it always comes in a day or two early

Re:laptop stand - 09/20/0506:26 PM

Re:laptop stand - 09/20/0506:30 PM

just finished everything that can be done until i go home for thanksgiving (and have access to a heat gun) i have a lot of homework that i should have been doing in the past 3-4 hours, but instead, i made a kick ass laptop stand. Here's a quick thing to make you all amazed:

:cheer: !!!!!! I put the laptop on the stand then started temperature monitor too, so that's after a bit of delay. also, the graphics processor is moving up and down because i just plugged in my second monitor. Anyways, this was a great project, and I'll put up the pictures tomorrow

Re:laptop stand - 09/21/0502:53 AM

Re:laptop stand - 09/21/0502:54 AM

Re:laptop stand - 09/21/0502:55 AM

just the stand - I attached the top to the bottom with hinges so I can change the height depening on where I am - also, it's propped up on a box of nails for now, I'm going to have to find a better way to do that.

Re:laptop stand - 09/21/0503:00 AM

just the connections - the wires are currently held with scotch tape - that's definitely going to change, any suggestins? also, I plan on getting a 2 Ohm resistor which gives me the right voltage drop/current to run the usb hub. and then I want to bend up the front 1/2 inch - 1 inch and pull one of those usb port up to the front, add a switch for the led's, and maybe a variable resistor so i can control speed.

Re:laptop stand - 09/21/0504:54 AM

Re:laptop stand - 09/21/0507:02 AM

here are some side shots - also, i just returned from the auction down here and I got a nice keyboard tray - unfortunately, it was attached to a desk, so I'll have to get that together soon, and then my desk will be set.

Re:laptop stand - 09/21/0507:03 AM

Re:laptop stand - 09/22/0507:30 AM

Possibley a bit late for your project but for the people with metal based PowerBooks (ie not me with my plastic iBook) it might be worth investigating the possibility of using large heat sinks to rest the bottom of the 'book on. Coupled with some fans pulling/pusing air might be quite effective.

Re:laptop stand - 09/22/0509:23 AM

I was actually thinking of building something like that out of aluminum. The bottom would be solid, the sides mesh, and the top solid with two fans inside. If possible, I would build-in the hardware from my BookEndz docking station on one end and maybe splice power from it so as to keep my desk relatively uncluttered. Since I use a screen, keyboard, and mouse, the 'Book is usually closed on my desk, unless Bluetooth isn't working. The cooler would also need to rest flat on the desk, so as to accomidate my setup. I have relatively little experience with modding/building electronics, though, so I would need mny pointers. And on the subject of Bluetooth, do any other PowerBook or iBook (or I suppose even PowerMac, iMac, and Mac mini) owners have a proble with their computer spontaneously losing track of Bluetooth hardware or firmware? Sometimes after a manual shutdown/restart or even after a proper one, the Bluetooth card in my 12" AlBook will disappear for reasons unknown. I haven't yet addressed this to the Apple Store geniuses, although I have meant to about three times now. I keep forgetting to ask that question when I go in for answers to others.

Re:laptop stand - 09/30/0509:10 AM

I was thinking of putting in a pot on the front of the stand to control the fan speed - does anyone know how to wire that? My fans are three wire, so my guess is i take the third wire to one end of the pot and then the other end to the common ground.

Edit: on the pot(entiometer) note -I found two good sites that sell stuff like that for a lot cheaper than radio shack: Futurlec and Mouser

Re:laptop stand - 10/18/0512:08 PM

Re:laptop stand - 10/18/0512:09 PM

Re:laptop stand - 10/18/0512:12 PM

and before i put the fans & usb hub in

with the extra space in the front I have a sliding potentiometer to use for a fan control, a switch for the LEDs and I'll pull one of the usb ports up to the front. Unfortunately, the pot that i've got is too strong (10k Ohm) so I've ordered a smaller one that should work.

Re:laptop stand - 10/19/0504:54 AM

Re:laptop stand - 10/29/0503:21 PM

So last night my order from Futurlec came in - So i put in the fan controller slider - it's still too large of a resistor, I only move the slider about a quarter the length to go from full on to off. So I may get another one at some point, but for now I'm broke and it's not really worth it. Also, the USB port I mounted doesn't seem to be working, it get's power, but not the info signal, i.e. the mouse I plugged into it lit up but didn't work (it did work when I plugged it in elsewhere)

Edit: Forgot to mention, the switch on the right is for the lights, and next time I make it out to the hardware store I'll get the screws for the slider and pull out that hot glue.

Edit part 2: by right I do mean left. Or stage right, yeah, let's go with that.